Fatal explosion: Roof âcame offâ after âmighty bangâ
Jenny Kirk/BBCA neighbour heard a âmighty bangâ and said the roof âcame offâ in an explosion and fire at a house in which a man died and a woman suffered serious injuries.
Bedfordshire Police said âincreasedâ levels of gas had been found in the area which were believed to be naturally-occurring from an underground source, not from a gas pipe network.
Emergency services were called to the house in Cleat Hill, Bedford, at about 07:00 BST on Saturday.
A neighbour said: âI just heard the bang, I heard a mighty bang that was really massive â Iâve never heard anything like it.â
The âwhole roofâ of the house âcame offâ in the explosion, she said.
âWe werenât allowed to go closer because it wasnât safe.â
She added that she had been told to call 101 to ask for updates on when it would be safe to return to her home.
Gas levels
Ch Supt Zara Brown, of Bedfordshire Police, said: âFollowing the explosion and the subsequent identification of increased levels of natural gas in the area, an evacuation of the immediate area has been undertaken and a cordon remains in place as a precaution.
âThe gas levels identified are thought to be naturally-occurring gases from an underground source and not coming from a gas pipe network in the area.â
She said she appreciated home owners wanted to get back into their properties, and thanked them for their patience and understanding.
âSafety is our main priority so we are asking people to avoid the Cleat Hill area while the investigation continues,â she added.
âOur thoughts remain with the family and friends of the person who sadly died, and the person being treated in hospital.
âWe remain firmly in the response phase as we continue to make both the structure safe and maintain on-scene gas monitoring.â
Bedfordshire Borough Council set up an emergency assistance centre for people who had to leave their homes.
Emergency services, gas workers and the Health and Safety Executive were on site on Sunday.
Some residents returned to collect belongings.
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